European Journal of Medicinal Plants

Zinc Phosphide-Induced Hepato-Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats: The Ameliorative Role of Curcumin from Curcuma longa Rhizome

Kemi F. Akinwunmi — 2021-04-28

Globally used pesticides contains zinc phosphide (ZnP) which are toxic. This present study was carried out to investigate the potency of bioactive curcumin in ameliorating the toxicity of zinc phosphide on biochemical enzymes present in kidney and liver of Wistar rats. A total of 30 (120–150 g) male adult Wistar rats were used. Experimental animals were divided into five groups and treated as follows for a period of 21 days: Group I rats, serving as the control, orally received 1 ml/kg body weight of corn oil with administration of same volume of saline. Group II rats were orally administered Zinc phosphide at a dose of 4.57 mg/kg body weight (one-tenth LD50) in corn oil. Group III rats orally received curcumin at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. Groups IV and V rats were orally administered curcumin at graded doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight respectively, 2 hours before administration of Zinc phosphide. At the end of the time interval, experimental animals were anesthesized with diethylether and organs (kidney and liver) were harvested for biochemical assays. The oral administration of Zinc phosphide at 4.57 mg/kg body weight for 21 days resulted in a significant increase in hepatic and nephridial malondialdehyde. This index of lipid peroxidation, was accompanied by decreased activity of the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) followed by a drastic reduction in the non-enzymatic antioxidant indices of reduced glutathione when compared to control. Pre-administration of Curcumin significantly ameliorated zinc phosphide-induced hepatic and nephrotic effects by subduing oxidative stress indices and improving antioxidant status. The result of the present study shows that curcumin has a protective effect against zinc phosphide induced liver and kidney damage in male Wistar rats.

Isolation, Characterization and Biological Activities of Stigmasterol from Leaf Part of Crescentia alata Kunth (Bignoniaceae)

R. Abinaya — 2021-05-01

The present investigation deals with the extraction, separation, isolation, identification, characterization and biological evaluation of the stigmasterol from methanolic extract on leaves of C. alata Kunth using bio-guided fractionation and spectral analytical methods. The biological activities investigated were antimicrobial and cytotoxicity. Leaf crude extract of C. alata obtained from 80% methanol was successively extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Ethyl acetate fraction afforded a bioactive compound by bioassay-guided fractionation. The characterization of isolates was done by biochemical and spectral methods. The active fraction obtained and isolated compound were tested for their antimicrobial activities. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compound on Hela cell line, estimated with the MTT assay. The ethyl acetate fraction has exhibited highest effective antimicrobial activities and the fraction afforded a compound stigmasterol. The compound isolated stigmasterol from leaf of C. alata showed strongest antimicrobial effect against all microbial strains were tested with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 1.95 to 125 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity studies indicated that the isolated stigmasterol possesses much potential against Hela (mammalian cancer) cell line. Overall, the stigmasterol compound was the most dynamic as far as the antibacterial and antifungal potential of the leaves of C. alata confirm the conventional utilization of this plant in treating different respiratory sufferings and its related manifestations. The properties of the bioactive phytochemical compound stigmasteol recommend that the powerful and wide range of antimicrobial and anticancer operators and may fill in as the lead compound in the advancement of novel restorative medications.